There was once a crow that had bought a fine necklace from a merchant. He was very proud of his ornament which he immediately put around his neck so that everybody could see it. Then he flew away and came to a beautiful little garden where he met his old friend, the hen, strutting about with her chicks following her. The hen said to him, "Oh, what a fine necklace you have. May I borrow it? I will return it to you tomorrow without fail."

Now, the crow liked the hen, so he willingly lent her the necklace for a day. The next morning, when the crow returned to get it back, he found the hen and her chicks scratching the ground near an old wall. "Where is my necklace?" asked the crow.

The hen was frightened upon hearing this, and she began to wonder how she could raise the money. The crow, who was on his way to a fiesta, said impatiently,"I will take one of your chicks everyday in payment of what you owe me. As soon as you find the necklace, give it back to me. Only then will I stop eating your chicks." The hen had to agree, for she feared that the crow would go to the king if she refused.

Unto this day, both hens and chicks have not stopped looking for the lost necklace, and the crows continue to exact payment for the lost jewel by taking the chicks. It is said that the hens and chickens will never cease scratching the ground until the lost necklace is found.